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(MASON, OH) -- Something old is new again at Kings Island, as the backward traveling trains on the Racer roller coaster will run forward again when the park opens for the 2008 season on Sunday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m.

The decision to run both sides of the Racer forward again after 26 years with one side facing backward was made in an effort to be consistent with other Cedar Fair parks. The Red Racer trains will be on the former backward side, with the Blue Racer trains on the other side.

The Racer has been a mainstay at Kings Island, and with good reason. A lot of facts and figures have been bandied about concerning the coaster - top height is 88 feet, the course is three-fifths of a mile long, speed is 53.3 miles an hour and the angle of the first drop is 50 degrees.

More than 91,000,000 guests have taken a ride on the Racer since it opened in 1972 with the park.

Re: No More Backwards Racer At Kings Island

Originally Posted by dabvu2498

91,000,000 wow.

I haven't been to Kings Island since high school, but I went quite a few times while in high school. Several times I was there, the Racer was pretty much the only rollercoaster without any line to speak of. I was there with some friends, and we just kept riding the Racer over and over. Walk right in, hop right on, ride the coaster, hop off the coaster, then walk right back in, etc.

Re: No More Backwards Racer At Kings Island

Being the only idiot parent in the neighborhood still willing to ride rides, I usually end up taking my youngest daughter and 3-4 neighbor kids to King's Island several times a year and ride the rides with them.

What Cyclone said about the Racer is pretty much true, you can ride it over and over without much of a wait at all. I think one time we rode it 21 times straight just... because. I felt it for days.

The backwards one is pretty rough and if you don't brace yourself appropriately, you can get whipped around pretty good. We usually do the "race" thing and split off for the frontwards and backwards one and race.

But then again, I'm an old guy and all the rides seem rough to me now.

Re: No More Backwards Racer At Kings Island

Originally Posted by Cyclone792

I haven't been to Kings Island since high school, but I went quite a few times while in high school. Several times I was there, the Racer was pretty much the only rollercoaster without any line to speak of. I was there with some friends, and we just kept riding the Racer over and over. Walk right in, hop right on, ride the coaster, hop off the coaster, then walk right back in, etc.

For about 90 minutes we were pretty much on every other session.

I once did that on the Indian Jones ride in DisneyLand. Usually the lines are insanely huge... like an hour easily before the fast pass arrived.

But we once stayed fairly late at night and it seemed that almost everyone left the park. That left the Indiana Jones ride with zero line. We went on at least 8 times in succession.

Re: No More Backwards Racer At Kings Island

A colorado native here, made sure to visit Ohio's great parks several times.. backwards racer is always one that sticks in my mind. The Beast of course too.. and The Vortex? Is that it? can't remember.

Shame to hear its gone..

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